How a Serbian teacher became a Russian‑language trainer for football coaches
When renowned Serbian soccer coach Marko Nikolić signed a contract with a Russian club, he decided to hold his very first press conference in his new role in Russian, without a translator. So, as to immediately try to pass for one of their own.
With only three months to prepare, he called Antonela to polish his Russian. For the teacher, this was a real challenge. They started working an almost “sports‑style” schedule: five days a week, practicing Russian with endless repetitions, dissecting the slightest nuances of intonation and simulating stressful situations.
“It turned out that language, like sport, follows discipline,” says Antonela.
Nikolić successfully delivered his press conference and Antonela realised that, in that same time, she had grown enormously as a teacher. Since then, five years have passed and she receives frequent messages and calls from sports professionals, all asking her to sharpen their Russian.
Why the Serbian woman began teaching Russian
“I live in the city of Nova Pazova, a small town between Belgrade and Novi Sad. Our second foreign language is Russian and children begin studying it already in fifth grade,” says Antonela.
She fondly remembers her own school teacher, who not only taught the language, but also conveyed a love for Russian culture – telling stories about Moscow, introducing Russian literature and reading Pushkin’s poems.
Antonela decided she wanted to work with languages and entered the philology faculty. By her second year, she realised she wanted to teach.
Antonela’s main job is a court‑translator from Russian. In addition, she runs an extensive private practice.
“I don’t work in a state school. My classroom is a training base: a hotel room before a match, online chats late at night. My students are adult professionals used to pressure and results.”
Interest in Russian in Serbia is a constant
According to Antonela, Russian is neither exotic nor rare in Serbia – it’s taught and loved. Today, it’s not just a part of historical memory, but also a practical tool for modern professional development.
Every year, she meets a fresh sports professional – be it coach, manager or player – who is beginning to learn Russian.
“For me, Russian is a song that we, teachers, must keep singing. We pass on the fragments of the Russian world: Pushkin, songs, poems, love, Moscow and the wonderful, great Russia!”
Moscow: A special place
“For Serbian specialists, Moscow is not an abstract city, but a real center of opportunity. Language becomes a marker of respect. When a foreign coach speaks Russian, even with an accent, he demonstrates a willingness to enter another culture’s space, to adopt its rules of the game,” wrote Antonela in her essay for the International Pushkin Competition for Russian language teachers, which she entered in 2026.
Antonela heard a lot about Moscow in her childhood from her teacher. Later, she visited as a student while on an internship. She was sure she knew Russian well.
“After five days in the company of young Muscovites, I realized I understood almost nothing. They spoke quickly, in slang, with intonations not found in textbooks. It was a living, urban language – something I had not prepared for! That was a mild shock for me and, later, an important lesson.”
Over time, Antonela says, Moscow has become not just a professional focus, but a personal growth point. Today, she has returned to the city in an entirely different status – as a winner of that very International Pushkin Competition for Russian language teachers!